Getting ready for the PCIC seminar was a great deal more work than I thought it would be. The night before, they asked those of us speaking at the opening morning to meet at the hall for a run through. So, there I was suddenly on the spot. I HAD to speak. Had to. They sat us at a table and we waited for the signal and one at a time we read our stories into the mic, to the others there for the run through. And it wasn't as bad a I thought it would be, as scared as I was. My story is, of course, about the attendant Care Program and how I depend on others to get through my day, every day.

The next morning, April 4th, we gathered at Temple Emanu-El, at 8:00am. There was coffee and little muffins to snack on. And the real crowd was big and full of important people, those from the various churches and the government both. And at 9:00am they called on those of us asked to tell our stories. There were six of us with different life stories to tell. Everyone was very nervous and everyone did well. And then it was over. We sat at out table and drank coffee and listened to the morning speeches, numbers, and statistics. It was basically a morning of people being called upon to really, truly get some things done. To see that all the various issues are made obvious and known, as that their importance is made well known.

So, now we wait to find out how much we got started. The goal was to get individuals and groups organized into making changes in the issues presented and to find out what issues are considered more important. There are a lot of things the PCIC wants to be involved with, including immigration, child care, job training, education, and elder & disablilty care, which includes the attendant care program issue. In general though, they want to generate a greater respect for all those groups. The people in those groups tend to be the invisible and disregarded.

So we wait. Any comments or suggestions? Let me know, it's all appreciated.